The Bottineau pioneer., 1887-05-05
Mrs. ShoddY, OF Boston.


! A Mrs. Shoddy, of Boston, for even
in Boston specimens of this kind exist,
was discoursing the other evening
upon the sale of the Stewart pictures
in New York, writes correspondent
OF The Providence Journal.
II thought of gong on,' she said
Ito buv some of the paintings, but
really have more pictures than know
what to do with. Of course there
were fine things in the Stewart sale,
but my own paintings. I may say, are
are really metricious-at least bought
them as such-and so I concluded not
to compete with New York collectors. ~
The dear old dowager would be as
tonished if she knew how true her re-
mark was, little as she understood the
true Significance of her epithet. A
good story is told of the way in which
she bought some of her *'metricious"
pictures. Several years ago she went
abroad and took with her specimen
of the paper of her drawing-room, in
order that she might buy pictures to
harmonize--or, as she said, to match.
An American artist in Paris wrote
home an account of her visit to the
studio to French artist of distinction.
The lady arrived one morning by ap-
pointment. armed With her specimen
of wall paper and stated that the arch
itect of her house had told her
to purcha Sc picture of given size for
a certain space in her drawing-room.
The artist had no pictures of these di-
mensions, but he was clever enough to
understand the sort of woman he was
dealing with and unscrupulous enough
to take advantage of her.
''This canvas" he said, showing her
painting he wished to sell, ''isn't the
same measure you want, because we
have the metric system in France, and
of course that is different; but it is that
measure translated into our. system.
1t is the nearest thing you can get in
this countrys
The picture was half as large again
as she had asked for, but she received
this explanation in perfect good faith,
and proceeded to investigate the har-
mony of paper and picture. The oblig-
ing painter arranged the wall-pa per
behind the canvas, and walked away
and clasped his hands in admiration.
"Ah, madame" he said with dra-
matte sigh. ''you Americans are such
a nation! have searched Paris for a
proper background for this picture and
have not been able to find it; and here
you bring me precisely the color of
which have dreamed. If had that
paper would not sell you the picture
at all, but now you must have it if I
give it to you!''
And he did give it to her-in ex-
change for $4,000.
At another studio she was less sue
cessful. She had been told whose pic
lures she ought to buy, and applied
boldly to the leading painters of Paris.
The second artist whom she saw, how
ever treated her with what she feeling
ly describes as outrageous brutality.
When she produced her specimens Of
of wallpaper, the old man brusquely
interrupted her setting forth of her
wishes.
1T is of no use, madam" he sad
with great affectation of regret and
earaestness. II never sell a picture
on SO slight grounds as mere harmony
with the paper hanging: So much de-
pends upon the light that never risk
my reputation without examining the
room in which the painting is to hang.
Did you bring your house with youP
If you didn't, I fear it is impossible for
us to come to an arrangement.
OF course one could not be sure OF
the truth of these stories unless he had
made them up but they certainly have
the appearance of being too absur d not
to have some grains of verify in them.